community 1990 Suwa Seriya: Sri Lanka's free ambulance — how to use it
July 15, 2026 · The Dispensary Arugambay
Many visitors don’t realise Sri Lanka has a free, nationwide emergency ambulance service — Suwa Seriya, dial 1990. It’s staffed by trained paramedics, it costs nothing to call or ride, and operators speak English.
When to call 1990 instead of coming to us:
- Chest pain, difficulty breathing, or a suspected heart attack or stroke
- A serious road accident, major bleeding, or a bad fall
- Loss of consciousness, seizures, or a drowning
- Anything where the person should not be moved without trained help
For these, call 1990 first — an ambulance with paramedics will come to you. For everything else — fevers, cuts, stings, stomach bugs, infections — walk in to us, day or night.
Save both now, before you need them:
- 1990 — Suwa Seriya ambulance (free)
- +94 77 757 6126 — The Dispensary, 24 hours
See our full emergency page and the guide to emergency numbers in Sri Lanka.
Sources & further reading